The Dynasty

I was really looking forward to this, The twenty years of unprecedented success of my beloved New England Patriots, but how disappointed I was after each episode.

This Series was produced by the Kraft Family & was a complete character assassination of Head Coach Bill Belichick & a love note to "Tommy".

The Patriots second and third Superbowl victories vs the Panthers & Eagles were completely overlooked whilst the Scandals & Losses were heavily focused on.

I lost all respect for owner Robert Kraft after this, Funnily he omitted his own massage parlour Scandal from the documentary but was happy to insinuate Aaron Hernandez murder victims would still be alive if it wasn't for Belichick.

Tom Brady Love in.

Bill Belichick hatchet Job.

Kraft Mr good guy holding a dynasty together.

One day I hope for Coach Belichicks version of events.

I've only seen a few sports documentaries over the years, but I'm glad I caught this one. "The Dynasty" allows us all to peek behind the curtain and to see the rise and fall of the patriots dynasty. This show gives an inside look at how Robert Kraft, Bill Billichick, Tom Brady and company, all established themselves as champions, as well as the struggles they all dealt with over the years. It's important to note how much of a role ego plays in an arena of this stage. But it's also worth remembering that we're all human and could've made the same mistakes or choices. What's most fascinating is reliving those moments from the players', staff's, and management's perspectives. All in all it was a nice trip to the past and it was a pleasure to be part of their journey.

I see a lot of review bombing going on and I really don't know why. This documentary is exceptional and I think people are letting their emotions get in the way. If you have Apple TV+ and are even remotely aware of the NFL, this should automatically go to the top of your list.

This was a very fascinating, informative documentary that allowed life-long fans to relive amazing moments while at the same time educate those unfamiliar with the greatest sports dynasty of all time. From humble beginnings, through controversies both real and imagined all the way until the bitter, inevitable end this series provides the viewer with a front row seat to all the ups and downs. My only disappointment is with many of the reviews disparaging this phenomenal documentary. To be a fan is natural and to "hate" a team that displayed consistent success at the expense of ones own team is understandable but, being unable to see past your own fandom to appreciate true greatness is unforgivable. True football fans will see the documentary for what it is: a recording of greatness as it rose and fell. Ignore the negatively of some of these reviews. They were written by fake football fans and bandwagoners who have allowed their bitterness to cloud their judgement.

Overall Take

From the jump, this docuseries makes one thing crystal clear: This isn't a highlight reel.

This is the real story - the drama, the dysfunction, the genius, the resentment, the winning... and the implosion.

You get: Raw behind-the-scenes footage Candid interviews with all the key players (yes, even Brady, Kraft, and Belichick) Insight into how the machine ran - and what broke it down

This is House of Cards: NFL Edition - with rings.

Section 1: The Rise of the Empire

This starts with the humble roots - a nobody team with a cold, calculating coach in Bill Belichick and a sixth-round pick named Tom Brady.

Belichick, the scheming tactician, arrives like a storm cloud. Cold, brilliant, no-nonsense.

Brady, raw and underestimated, becomes the spark no one saw coming.

Drew Bledsoe's injury changes NFL history.

From here, the dynasty begins - and the first Super Bowl win in 2001 sets the tone: They don't just win - they shock the world doing it.

You feel the hunger in these early episodes. The chip on the shoulder is everything.

Section 2: Building the Machine

The middle of the series gets into the Patriots way - discipline, sacrifice, and complete control.

Brady transforms into a silent killer.

Belichick's system becomes law - no names, just roles.

Players are interchangeable cogs in a war machine.

The defense - Bruschi, Harrison, Seymour - becomes legendary.

And you start to see the price of perfection: Players speak about fear, silence, and being cut while still in their prime.

The joy is replaced with expectation.

Winning isn't a goal - it's a demand.

Section 3: The Cracks in the Armor

Then it shifts. The undefeated 2007 season looms.

Randy Moss joins, and the offense goes nuclear.

They steamroll everyone... until that Super Bowl. The Helmet Catch. The Giants.

18-1. And it haunts the dynasty forever.

That loss is a turning point. You can see the toll it takes.

Meanwhile: Brady begins to evolve - not just as a QB, but as a brand.

Belichick stays the same - ice-cold and unflinching.

Tensions rise. Control vs. Freedom. Logic vs. Emotion.

Section 4: The Second Era of Dominance

After setbacks and near-misses, the second wind hits.

The Malcolm Butler interception - absolute poetry.

The 28-3 comeback vs. The Falcons - the peak of NFL mythology.

Brady cements himself as the GOAT - the Michael Jordan of football.

But even during the greatest moments... you feel the divide growing.

Brady wants more voice.

Belichick sticks to his system.

Kraft becomes the mediator - and it wears on all of them.

Section 5: The Fall

This section is the most emotionally loaded.

You see the fallout of Jimmy Garoppolo's presence.

The "Guerrero rift" shows Brady asserting independence.

Belichick becomes isolated.

The locker room fractures.

Brady and Kraft connect emotionally. Belichick shuts down.

And when Brady finally leaves - it feels like a divorce.

Years of built-up emotion come to a head.

You can see it in Brady's eyes - tired, proud, and done.

It's not hate. It's just... time.

Final Episode: Legacy and Reflection

The ending doesn't pretend the dynasty ended perfectly.

Brady wins in Tampa - and it hurts Belichick's legacy.

Belichick struggles to rebuild without his QB.

Kraft looks back with bittersweet pride.

But the show doesn't pick a side.

It lets all three men - Brady, Belichick, and Kraft - tell their truth.

It's emotional. It's powerful. It's the end of an era.

Why It's a 10 out of 10 + Authentic, unfiltered storytelling + Candid interviews from the three pillars of the dynasty + Intimate look at one of the most successful (and controversial) runs in sports history + Not afraid to expose the dysfunction + Balances legacy with the human cost of perfection + High-quality production and pacing

Final Verdict

"The Dynasty: New England Patriots" isn't just about football.

It's about ambition, ego, control, trust, betrayal, and the brutal truth that winning comes at a cost.

If you ever wondered what it's really like behind a 20-year empire - this is it.

It's not a love letter. It's a portrait of power.

And it's damn near flawless.

I'm through 6 episodes this far, and I have two issues.

First, I can't tell who the audience is intended to be. There's almost no context to allow someone unfamiliar with this team over the last 25 years to get a good picture of who the Patriots were during this stretch. They basically only introduce two players: Brady and the QB he replaced (Bledsoe). They don't even bother telling us about how awesome the defense was in those early years. They interview a couple defenders, but don't show their abilities; they're only there to tell the story of Brady, Belichick, and Kraft. There's no details during games like score, stakes, down, nothing. There's no sense of the importance of any game whatsoever. Even the undefeated regular season in '07. Wouldn't it make sense to mention that only one team in the NFL's history ever went undefeated and won the Super Bowl? And it's not like they ran out of time - episodes 5 and 6 are 30 minutes each.

Second, it feels like it's very biased towards owner Robert Kraft. In episode 6 (focusing on Aaron Hernandez and being charged with murder), at one point they basically insinuate that if Belichick had traded Hernandez to the west coast (as he requested), that the whole situation could've been avoided. If anyone's unfamiliar, there's been quite the rift between Kraft and Belichick the last few years.

So the tl;dr is that this feels rushed to get it out right after Kraft fired Belichick, and as a result of rushing, lacks a ton of fundamental production/editing qualities to make this hold up to any of the recent docuseries. Maybe it needed 10 years to have a better perspective on the whole thing. Too bad.